Swimming with wild dolphins in the morning, sailing into the sunset with a catamaran and fine dining with a view to the ocean below a 1000 stars. Mauritius is famous for its excellent beach holidays. But the tropical island in the Western Indian Ocean offers way more than that due to its past. Healthy Mauritius helps guests getting back their balance: Yoga, Ayurveda, TCM, meditation, detox and wellness are deep-rooted here.

An eventful past with European „discoverers“ and slaves from India, Africa and Asia bestowed a rich multicultural heritage on the island. This is manifested not only in the Mauritian style of cooking or the peaceful coexistence of various religions but is omnipresent in the Mauritian way of life.

„In Mauritius we cultivate Ayurveda, Yoga or TCM from a very early age. These rituals are practiced daily at home since we’ve been children“, tells me Kevin Ramkaloan, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. He explains: „Traditional wellness is very important in Mauritius in order to cope with a stressfull modern lifestyle. We want to share this art of keeping balance the Mauritian way. It’s an authentic mixture of eastern and western philosophies, that derive from our Asian and European ancestors.“ This exciting mixture is the essence of Mauritius. Guests of the island enjoy it with yoga lessons on the beach, massages in tropical open air spas or with detoxing days up in the mountains.

Endless Summer

Or First Lesson: Listen To Your Own Heartbeat!

An average temperature of 25 degree Celsius, crystal clear turquoise waters and lonely palm-lined bays with huge lava rocks – Mauritius is a dream destination. In the embodiment of the lonesome island, 1800 km East of Africa and 200 km Northeast from La Reunion, guests enjoy surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, snorkeling or deep sea diving. Within the coral reef I encouter exotic fishes, on the outside of the reef lifetime dreams get fullfilled: I’m not spotting one of the rare turtles, but I’m allowed to jump into the water, where free dolphins are swimming. Emerging with a fast beating heart from my underwater encounter, Mauritius and its striking mountains are beaming in the morning light. The mountains – relitcs from volcanic eruptions – are excellent for trekking and hiking with a view to an endless ocean.

Freedom Calling

Or Second Lesson: Keep Calm!

The famous mountain Le Morne Brabant on the Southwest of the island is part of UNESCO World Heritage since 2008. „They say, in the 19th century many slaves had been hiding in the caves of the mountain“, explains Audrey Cunat, guest manager of Dinarobin Beachcomber, which is located directly in front of Le Morne. She tells us the whole story: „When slavery was abolished in 1835 an expedition was sent to the mountain to tell the slaves about their freedom. But the slaves thought the men were coming to enslave them again, so many of them jumped from the top to avoid beeing caught.“

SUP-Yoga-Flows

Or Third Lesson: Keep The Balance And Smile!

In front of the Le Morne peninsula Rajshree Harry, yoga teacher from Beachcomber Paradis, shows us how to keep the balance and do yoga on our SUP-boards. This art of yoga requires full body control, even the easiest yoga poses like „warrior” or “mountain” are difficult to handle. Rajshree knows how to calm us and the boards: „Feet hip-width apart, concentrate on your breath, focus on your core and keep your knees slighly bent. Tune into an inner smile“, she tells me smirking and suddenly we’re proudly practicing yoga flows in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Forever young

Or Fourth Lesson: Open Your Heart!

The spa-temple of the Dinarobin lives up to it’s name. It’s bursting with energy. Mohini Purbhoo explains beaming: „The room is recharged every day with positive energy and meditations!“ She shows us the 5 Tibetians, which Asian monks used to practice to be focused, present and physically fit. „This practice keeps us young and flexible on the inside and on the outside. Each exercise strengthens a certain Chakra and should be repeated 21 times.“, says Mohini. We start to spin around with arms spread widely – this helps to detox the brain, enforces the blood circulation and stimulates the „Third-Eye-Chakra“. The second Tibetian – a kind of leg raise abs workout – empowers the „Throat-Chakra“. The third exercise focuses on opening the „Heart-Chakra“, the fourth Tibetian tends to the solar plexus and the last one adresses the Root and Sacral-Chakra, which represent our foundation, our feeling of being grounded and open to new situations. At the end of the session I feel so light, I’m nearly flying out of the temple.

Wellness Bonus:

The spa-temple offers not only mindblowing yoga sessions with Rajshree Harry and Mohini Purboo but also holistic treatments, individually targeted to fit the needs of each guest.

Detox in the mountains

Or Fifth Lesson: Align Your Chakras!

Up in the mountains of Mauritius Dr. Siddick Maudarbocus cares for the health issues of guests from all over the world. The Les Mariannes Sanctuary is a place of refuge for those, who are longing for inner and outer balance: acupuncture, detox, diets, rehab, panchakarma – the wellness sanctuary combines the thousand-years-old knowledge of Ayurveda, TCM and yoga with modern western medicine. „We don’t believe in pills here“, explains Dr. Maudarbocus: „For us at Les Mariannes, we believe that sickness is an expression of blockages in our system, so nature can no longer do its healing, cleansing and correcting homeostatic work. The role of the physician is to remove these blockages so as to allow a state of good health will flow in naturally, effortlessly.“ Corresponding to his Biofeedback Chakra-Analysis all my Chakras are quite aligned. Only the „Third-Eye-Chakra“ is a bit out of hand. It seems like I’m overthinking things.

Sundowner in Turtle Bay

Or Sixth Lesson: Breath Deep And Be Present!

A bit further up the westcoast, 15 kilometers north of Port Louis I’m drifting close to Turtle Bay. The national marine park is sheltered from the South East trade winds and is ideal for snorkeling. On the edge of the famous bay within 20 acres of lush tropical gardens with odorent frangipani and flaming red flamboyant trees, between Buddha statues, waterfall and palm-lined pools I’m meeting Henrio Thomas, yoga teacher of The Oberoi Mauritius. „It’s time to breath the stress away and clean the whole system – before breakfast!“, says Henrio: „Pranayama breathing techniques are excellent in the morning. A fresh and focussed beginning of each day.“ The Kapalabhati breathing awakes our spirits and by breathing through one nostril only at a time, I start to relax completely. The best thing about it – It’s relaxation with long-term effects: For breakfast I’m having two meals from the healthy option a-la-carte menu – not to mention the fresh and handmade croissants. Dinner is served on the beach below thousands of stars with lots of first class vegetarian and healthy variations. During the day I´m pampered with little gourmet treats paitently waiting for me in my spacious villa – all the delicacies of the Italian Chef are celestial.

Wellness-Bonus:

The signature massages, e.g. the „Obeoroi-Massage“ are pure bliss. Together with yogatrainer Henrio and fitnessteacher Tim it’s easy to let the past go and be present in the current moment.

Dance The Night Away

Or Seventh Lesson: Be Active And Enjoy Yourself!

On the end of my self-discovery trip sports, fitness and more massages appear on the agenda. Club Med Plantation D’Albion invites me to stay fit with golf, tennis, sailing, beachvolleyball, pilates or while dancing the night away at a legendary Club Med Party. An active life full of joy is part of the Mauritian balance, too. Calm and contemplative moments are celebrated with indigenous massages at the Cinq Monde Spa to the sound of the roaring ocean and with a view to the shore. These treatments also reflect the multicultural Mauritian heritage.

Wellness-Bonus:

Extra long wellness rituals ease the mind and the muscles. Inbetween the treatmens guests relax on the terrace of the spa, sweat in the hamam or enjoy a vanilla-cardamom-tea or a cocktail at the infinity zen pool.

In the middle of the Indian Ocean there is more to discover than lonely beaches, coral reefs and turquoise water. In healthy Mauritius you might find a way back to your balanced self.

Links:

Detox & wellness sanctuary in the lush mountains: www.lesmariannes.com

Magical atmosphere and excellent dining options at Dinarobin Beachcomber: www.beachcomber-hotels.com/hotel/dinarobin-hotel-golf-spa

On top of the peninsula at the Paradis Beachcomber: http://www.beachcomber-hotels.com/hotel/paradis-hotel-golf-club

High-End luxury with celestial food at the The Oberoi: www.oberoihotels.com/hotels-in-mauritius

Wellness with view to the ocean at Club Med Plantation D’Albion: www.clubmed.de/r/La-Plantation-d’Albion-Club-Med/y